On Thu, Apr 3, 2008 at 2:21 AM, Sal Randolph <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> What an intriguing group we have for this discussion!
>
> I come at open source from a slightly different perspective. I'm an artist
> exploring the territory of 'gift' and 'free' because of the complex mix of
> ideas, feelings, politics, and situations I find there. Although I do of
> course use open source software, I mostly look at the free and open source
> software movements as both inspiration and a laboratory. I've found as a
> practical matter that gifts anchor and catalyze participation - if you want
> to make something happen, it's much easier to start with a gift than a
> request.
For instance, are you more excited
> to use a tool that's free? Or more wary? Does it feel like a gift? Does it
> create an obligation?
imho
Free software is great because it is something which empowers the
whole community.
So working with open tools could be seen as a gift to me, but it is
also offering an opportunity to others, and coders might see the
opportunity to work on the project as a win too. You choose what level
of engagement you want.
I have participated in some communities but I also just use some tools.
The choice is often a mix of
* time,
* communities I feel at home with, and
* a specific tool which I would like to see develop.
These kinds of interests in making something better are often similar
motivations to other folks developing so its not really a matter of
gifting in the binary sense but more a level of participation for the
folks involved.
Using the application is still seen as participation. Making openly
helps to build on the ecology around the project.
I guess I see it as being at a point in time where we are moving from
the broadcaster and recipient to
a model where there is more work being done on a peer2peer basis.
This is interesting for art because it has often been thought of as a
niche broadcast kind of project?
Janet
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